Form for concrete and the like



July 3, 1928.

E. J. GAS$ ET AL FORM FOR CONCRETE AND THE LIKE Filed May 51. 1922 2 Shets-Sheet INVENTORS E. J. GASS ET AL FORM For: CONCRETE AND THE LIKE Jul 3, 192 1,676,184

Filed May 51. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTORS ,',1 which aetyto hold casing. ex

Patented July 3, 192 18.

E CM R J. GASSAND DAVID w.v rnunsron, or DETROIT) lvrronrenlvfl EORM'FOR CONCRETE AND THE LIKE.-

.2 Application filed May 3;,

Our invention relates to forms for use with concrete and similar material, and par ticularly to such forms which'may be, collapsed-or contractedandremoved from the concrete after the samehas become set. 1 We have devised a form of slmple. construction and having simple means for contractingit' removing 1t from the concrete. i

by reference to the following description 'ta kenlin connection with the accompanying.

drawings forming a part I thereof; and in whichz I Figure .1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a form embodying ourinvention; i

Figure :2is 'a, cross.section on line II"II Figure 3 shows a detail of the meansfor preferably tongu'ed and gr0oved, seven- I eighths by three, inches in size and are of any desired length, I Theemembers 2 are covered with'galvanized sheet iron ofabout 26 gage. The form is provided .atjintervals ,with supports 8 which preferably take the formeof angles.

These supports may beplaced .along'the length of the form at any desired: distance apart. Wood members e are bolted tofthe supports 3 by bolts 5. Wood flooring mem- :bers2 are attached- -to the members 4: iniany desired-manner. The ends of the adjacent members 4 are cut away so asto provideia space 6 between the ends of'th'ese members v, to allow for contraction, as will berexplained "later.

i shown", are bent-"into circular outline with a I arrangement the foringis splitlongitudi- *nally. Thissplit 7 is-coveredxby a metal The supports. 3, in the embodiment space 7 between the opposed ends. By this plate 8 which is heldin the p'ositionfshown 91in Figure q2 by any suitable means, such as 'wwires 9, fastened atone-end to an eye-bolt -10 in-the plate 8-, and at their other ends to members 4 adjacent the split'inthe form-"or .,casing, are provided, with; toggle means Our invention will be better understood 1922.: Serial no. 564,806.

P D when in position. This toggle arrangement comprises two members 12 and x a i 13' wh ich are hin'ged together at la 'byi a sprmg hinge. The member 12 is pivotally connected by a pin 15 with one member 4"."

and the member 18" is likewise'fpivotallyt connected by a pin 16 with another member 4; .The spring hinge l l ten'ds at all times tohold the. members 12 and 13 inthe'position shown in' Figure 2, Slots are provided to allow thespins 15 and 16 to move when the toggle is broken. By this arrangement; the togglesmaybe broken without too much tendency, towards expansion" of the, form during the movement of the members12'and 13 to toggle breaking position.

A link 17 is 1pivotally connected to the support 3 at 18. {A similar link 19is' pivotally connected at"'20 with the support 3. The free ends ofthe links 17;:and 19 are connected by a ring 21. This rin'g hasYa connection 22 with the toggles l2 and 18.

The arrangement'of the toggles l2 and 13 isfs'uch that when in the position" shown in Figure 2 theparts are held inthe'. position lshown therein until the-"toggle is broken.

Extending along the' 'bottom of the. form or casing, are spacers 2 3 and 2 l' 'whi'chare held in position byqspikes 'passing through, the

members i. These spacersm'ayfbe'made of wood ytwe six inches and of: the required length, to extend between adjacent supports 3, as shown in Figure H A member 26] extends longitudinally of the-"form or. casing and is held in position by the bolts 25. Sheaves 2 7, 28 and 29ers fastened on the member 26, fasfsho'wn Figure 1, there beingone of these sheaves'at each o ftllesupports 3, f f The sheaves are held by bearing brackets 30 and '31,, which are ,boltedto the member 1 26,as shown; A cable 32 extends l'ongitudinally of the form or" casing, andhasattached thereto short cables 33, '34 and 35, eeenee'ted with corresponding members 21, I cable 32i-s provided at its outer end with "afloop' T 36 in which may beplaced 21111 015 37 "orfother suitable means for operating the cable :32

forcollapsing or contracting the casin md be explained later. S, c

Figure 5fsh'ows a portion of'a formil'illus- "The essential} difiere'nce between the form h j i in Fi u d tha I' FQF f Q Q1E removing the same from the concrete' as will Figu'refi are marked with the same numerals as applied to the other figures, with the exponent fa added thereto. The operation of the device as shown in Figure 5 is the same as that shown in the other figures, and is aziliollowsi- If the form is to be used in making a conduit,a ditch, tunnel, or other desired excavation, the excavation is made and the form placed therein. The parts are then moved to the position shown in the drawings'and concrete or similar I material is poured around thei'orm in the, usual way and is allowed to remain until it sets. When it is desired to remove the form from the con crete, suitablepower is applied to the cable 32 to draw the same to the left as viewed in Figure 1. The movement, oi the cable 32 causes a downward movement of the cables 33, 341- and 35, breaking the toggles 12 and 13, and carrying downwardly the free ends of the links 17 and 19. Thedownward movement 01": the links 17 v and 19 contracts the-iorm throughout its length, thus sepa rating itgfrom the hardened ;material 41. The power which is applied to the cable 32 also acts to 'move the form longitudinally out of the molded shape.

Our invention has 'many advantages. Among which may be'mentioned simplicity of construction; simplicity of the means for collapsing or contracting the form simultaneously throughout its length, thus relieving it from the concrete throughout its length; and serving to" remove theform from the concrete. By the arrangement of the device shown it may be successively moved to permit the formation of an indefinite lengthot sewer or other similar structure. Furthermore, this type of tor n may be collapsed or set up after has been moved, by

means operated from outside the form, thus 'eliminat ngthe danger inc dent to men go- Iing. into the form, as has been'nece'ssary heretofore. The Very simple provision of thejflexible means such as wires 9 for holdingthe slit coverfifign place allows the cover to movefupas the form is expanded and to h move inwardly whenthe form is collapsed and atthe same time keep thecoverin proper position over the slit. v

;Wh le we have shown and described two embodiments of our invention, it will bef'un derstood that we are not limitedto'the exact arrangements shown and described, as many changes may be made in the details of con struction without departing "from the spirit of our invention.

1. A form for concrete and the like, having a plurality of sets of togglesi'or holding the form in its expanded position, a set of links for each set of toggles connected to opposite sides of the form and the toggles, and means for operating all of said sets of links to break the toggles and to contract the form throughoutits length,'substantially as described. j

2. A form for concrete and the like, a plurality oi sets of toggle levers for holding the form in its expanded position, a plurality of pairs of transversely extending links, each link being connected at one end ing longitudinally thereof when the casing is expanded, toggle levers extending across the 'opening'and connected to the end portions of the casing on opposite sides of the opening, said toggle, levers being substantially parallel w'hen'the casing is expanded, links connected to each other and the ends of the casing, anactuating connection between the toggle levers and the links, said links being so arranged that when they are moved away from the toggle levers, the toggle levers will permit thebontracting of the casing when the links'are" swung about said connections, and means for actuating the links, substantially as described. i

' 4. A form for concrete, comprising a flexible casing of circular form, there being a longitudinal opening in the casing when the form is, expanded, a plurality of sets of toggle levers pivotally connected to the'end portions of the casing and extending across the opening between the center of the casing and the opening, a set 'ot links'for each set of toggle levers be'tween the toggle levers and.

arranged to first break the lock fol-medley the toggle levers and then contract the casing when the ends of the links are', drawn toward the center of the casing, and means for'simultaneou'sly drawing the links'of each I set toward 7 V he centerof'the casing, substantially as described. A I 5 A form for concrete, comprisin afflexible casing of circular form, there eing a to a set of'the toggle-levers, said links being longitudinal opening in the casing when the form is expanded, a cover for the openingv held in position by flexible connecting means connected to the end portions of the casing,

a plurality of sets of toggle levers pivotally connected to the end. portions of the casing and extending across the opening between the center of casing, and the opening, a set of links for each set of toggle levers between the toggle levers and the center of the casing, one end of each link of each set be ng pivoted to one end portion of the casing, the

other ends of the links of each set being connected to each other and to a set of the toggle levers, said links being arranged to first break the lock formed by the toggle levers and then contract the casing when the ends of the links are drawn toward the center of the casing, and means for simultaneously drawing the links of each set toward the center of the casing, substantially as described.

6. A form for concrete and the like, cornprising a collapsible casing, and means for normally holding said casing in its expanded operative position, sald means being adapted upon the application of force thereto to 1 move said casing to contracted position and i to thereafter automaticallymove it back into its expanded operative position uponthe removal of said force therefrom, substantially as described. 1 a

7. A form for concrete and the like, comprising a collapsible casing, means for normallyholding said casing in its expanded operative position, and means 7 operatively connected to said holding means whereby to simultaneously contract said casingand remove it from the1concrete surrounding the same, said holding meansbein'g. adaptedto panded operative position uponrelease of 0 automatically return said casing intoits exi said last mentioned means, substantially as described.

8. "A form for the concrete and the like,v

comprising a collapsible casing,. meansfor normally holding sald' casing in I 1ts expanded operative position, and means includ- I ing a cable operatively connected to; said holding means wherebyupon exerting tension upon said cable to simultaneously con' tract said casing'and remove it'from the concrete surrounding the same, said holding a means being adapted to automatically return'said casing into its expanded position upon relaxation of the tension upon said" cable, substantially as described.

9.An" expansible form for concrete and the like, comprising alongitudinally split casing, a cover plate outside the casing and resting thereon, extending along the split in a the casing, flexible connectors connecting the cover plate with th'ecasing' at opposite sides of the split and serving to hold the rover so a plate in central position when the casing is 

